As the 2026 MLB season approaches, all eyes are turning toward the World Baseball Classic, set to bring 20 of the top baseball nations together across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Japan. For Kansas City Royals fans, this tournament offers more than just the chance to cheer on familiar faces-it's also a golden opportunity to scout the lesser-known names who could end up making noise in the big leagues this season.
While stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez might grab the headlines, it’s the fringe roster guys-those non-roster invitees and under-the-radar prospects-who could quietly play their way into the Royals’ plans for 2026. Here are four names Royals fans should keep an eye on during the WBC, because a strong showing on the international stage could be the springboard to a surprise MLB role.
Abraham Toro - INF, Team Canada
Let’s be honest-Toro isn’t the flashiest name in the tournament, but sometimes it’s the utility guys who quietly become the glue of a roster. The Royals’ current utility mix of Nick Loftin and Tyler Tolbert hasn’t exactly locked things down, and Toro brings a different kind of profile to the conversation.
He’ll likely see time at third base for Team Canada, and while that’s not a position of need for Kansas City with Maikel Garcia entrenched, Toro’s past experience at second base and even a bit in the corner outfield gives him some versatility that could come in handy.
At the plate, the numbers don’t jump off the page-an 87 wRC+ in 2024 followed by a 77 wRC+ in 2025-but there’s more under the hood. Toro’s plate discipline is quietly impressive.
He struck out just 14.8% of the time last season, with a whiff rate of 20.4%. His contact rates-81.3% overall and 89.5% in the zone-suggest he’s a guy who can put the ball in play consistently.
In a league where strikeouts are still climbing, that matters.
He’s not going to carry your offense, but if Toro shows well in the WBC and carries that momentum into spring training, he could give the Royals a reliable, contact-first option off the bench who can cover multiple spots.
Eric Cerantola - RHP, Team Canada
Cerantola is one of those pitchers who might not be on every fan’s radar yet, but he’s inching closer to making that MLB leap. Still waiting on his first big league call-up, the 25-year-old right-hander will get a big stage to showcase his stuff with Team Canada.
His 2025 numbers at Triple-A Omaha were a mixed bag: a 4.04 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 49 innings don’t scream dominance, but look a little deeper. He struck out 11.57 batters per nine innings, held opponents to a .215 average, and posted a 3.64 FIP-suggesting he may have been a bit unlucky. And don’t forget, just a year earlier, he was lights out across Double-A and Triple-A, with a sub-3.00 ERA and a 31.5% strikeout rate.
The Royals’ bullpen has gotten a bit more crowded this offseason with the additions of Matt Strahm, Nick Mears, and Alex Lange, but Cerantola still has a shot. If he can flash his swing-and-miss stuff in the WBC and follow it up with a strong spring, don’t be surprised if he gets the call-up when the Royals need a fresh arm.
Jorge Alfaro - C, Team Colombia
Kansas City’s catching situation is anchored by Salvador Perez, and top prospect Carter Jensen is knocking on the door. But the Royals have shown interest in carrying three catchers in the past, and that’s where Jorge Alfaro comes in.
Signed to a minor league deal at the start of the year, Alfaro has a real shot to win that third catcher spot-especially if he shows well with Team Colombia. His 2025 stint with the Nationals was brief and underwhelming (54 wRC+ in 14 games), but he’s not far removed from being a serviceable big-league backstop. Between 2017 and 2019 with the Phillies and Marlins, he regularly posted wRC+ numbers around league average and had some pop with double-digit homers.
Alfaro’s value isn’t tied to being an everyday contributor. In a limited role, he just needs to handle pitchers well, bring some energy behind the plate, and maybe run into a few fastballs. If he shows signs of life in the WBC and impresses in Surprise, he could sneak onto the Opening Day roster.
Eli Morgan - RHP, Team Israel
The last name on this list might be the most intriguing. Eli Morgan had a quietly dominant run with Cleveland from 2022 to 2024, including a stellar 2024 season where he posted a 1.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and held hitters to a .194 average. Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign with the Cubs, but the underlying skills are still there.
Even during a tough, injury-plagued year, Morgan kept inducing weak contact (35.7% hard-hit rate) and maintained a strong 41.1% chase rate. That’s a sign of a pitcher who still knows how to get outs, even when he’s not at full strength.
The Royals have some open questions in middle relief, and Morgan could be a sneaky candidate to fill that gap. Team Israel’s pitching depth isn’t particularly deep, so Morgan should see plenty of high-leverage work in the WBC. If he looks healthy and effective, he could pitch his way into Kansas City’s bullpen picture-maybe even by Opening Day.
Bottom Line
The World Baseball Classic isn’t just a showcase for the game’s biggest stars-it’s also a proving ground for players on the bubble. For the Royals, this tournament offers a unique scouting opportunity. Whether it’s Toro’s contact skills, Cerantola’s strikeout potential, Alfaro’s experience behind the plate, or Morgan’s bounce-back bid, there are real reasons to watch these four closely.
They may not be household names yet, but in a long MLB season, depth matters-and these guys could be the difference-makers when opportunity knocks.